Topic

Bullying


We did a program on bullying this term. As a part of this, we wrote a script and then made a short movie about what to do when somebody bullies you. Unfortunately, something went wrong with filming my groups video, but here is our script.

Cameron is sitting in a seat when Patrick comes along.
Patrick: “Oi get out of my seat titch!”
Cameron: “But I was here first.”
Patrick: “Well what are you gonna do about it wimp?”
Anthony: “Yeah what are you gonna do ay?”
Then Patrick pushes Cameron off the seat and Anthony kicks him. Cameron runs off to the toilets crying. Annaleise saw what happened and follows Cameron.
Annaleise: “Cameron are you ok?”
Cameron: “No. They always bully me like that.”
Cameron comes out of the bathroom.
Annaleise: “Let’s go tell a teacher”
Cameron: “OK.”


Music And Drugs


Has music had any role in the history of substance use, misuse and abuse? Think drugs in music is new? Does music effect or reflect behaviors?

The music of many bands and artists has been influenced by drugs. The Beatles, Pink Floyd, Raidohead, Sublime are great bands from the 60’s and 70’s and many of the members were using drugs. Many people believe that their music wouldn’t of been the same without the drugs. While it seems that they needed the drugs to be so creative, I beleive that they could of done just a good of job without the drugs, and they could of been doing it for longer. These people were amazingly talented and they wasted their life away with drugs. Even newer artists, such as Britney Spears and Amy Winehouse, use drugs. Many of us have seen the effects that drugs have had on these artists.


Methamphetamine


Nicknames and street names for Methamphetamine

- P, Ice, Meth, Crystal Meth, Crystal Glass, Crystal, Christina, Tina, Cris, Cristy, Speed, Geep, Geeter, Getgo, Go Fast, Poor Man’s Coke, Redneck Cocaine, Working Man’s Cocaine, Trash, Garbage, Wash


Terms associated with Methamphetamine

  • Bathtub Crank - Low quality methamphetamine
  • Hot Rolling - Liquefying methamphetamine to inhale it using an eye dropper
  • Hot Railing - Heating methamphetamine to inhale the vapor through a tube
  • Lithium Scabs - Open sores due to methamphetamine abuse
  • Meth Monster - A person who reacts badly to methamphetamine use
  • Speed Freak, Tweaker, Meth Head - Person who is addicted to methamphetamine
  • Getting Glassed - To snort methamphetamine
  • Box Labs - Small labs used to produce methamphetamine that are easily moved


The Meth epidemic is causing growing devastation to individuals, families and communities.

Meth can be snorted / inhaled, smoked, injected, eaten or inserted anally.


Effects of Meth:

  • Energy and alertness
  • Talkativeness, increased confidence and excitement
  • Difficulty sleeping
  • Feelings of power and invincibility
  • Aggression, paranoia and irritability
  • Increased breathing, heart rate and blood pressure
  • Sweating, dry mouth and dilated pupils
  • Reduced appetite


Amphetamine is the name of a family of stimulant drugs that affect the the central nervous system. Stimulants speed up messages traveling to and from the brain. They also act as appetite suppressants and are occasionally prescribed by doctors for this purpose.

One of the most common types of amphetamines is crystal methamphetamine hydrochloride, otherwise known as methamphetamine. Meth is a highly addictive and powerful drug. In New Zealand, it is often referred to as ‘P’.

Methamphetamine looks like small shards of crystal rock or glass. It usually has a cream coloured appearance, but can sometimes have pink, blue, green, brown or yellow shade. It can also be crushed into a fine powder.
Short Term Effects:

  • Paleness. irregular or rapid heart beat, irregular breathing.
  • Stomach cramps, sweating.
  • Grinding teeth
  • Scratching skin, causing open sores
  • Collapse



Long Term Effects:

  • Anxiety, tension or depression.
  • Difficulty sleeping.
  • A violent or aggressive personality.
  • Psychosis
  • Damage to brain cells, memory loss.
  • Poor skin condition, wounds, acne.
  • Rotting teeth and mouth problems
  • Susceptibility to infection and disease
  • Malnutrition due to poor eating habits
  • Collapsed veins (For injecting users)
  • Blood-borne diseases - such as HIV, hepatitis (For injecting users)


Getting Help

Addiction to meth advances quickly, at a rate that can wipe out the individual in a matter of months. The first step to recovery is admitting that you are addicted. Telling someone you trust that your addicted to meth my be the biggest obstacle you face.